It's a new small coupe that follows on the heels of the larger 4 Series, which went on sale earlier this year. It's in keeping with BMW's new naming strategy in which odd numbers are for sedans and even numbers are for two-door models. Marketers won't be confused. They've already come up with a tagline for it: "Driving pleasure times two."

Arriving early next year, the 228i and the M235i will be premium subcompacts -- two doors, four seats and rear-wheel drive. There will also be a performance version, the M235i.

Though BMW is calling it subcompact, it sounds fairly big. It is going to be 2.8 inches longer and 1.8 inches wider than the 1 Series coupe, which preceeded it. Most of the extra space goes to providing a larger cabin for passengers.

The 2 Series will be powered by a 240-horsepower, four-cylinder turbocharged engine that accelerates from zero to 60 miles per hour in 5.4 seconds. With the eight-speed automatic transmission, it is rated at 23 miles a gallon in the city, 35 mpg on the highway for a combined 27 mpg. The M235i will have a 322-horsepower six-cylinder engine that covers the same windup in 4.8 seconds. Its mileage will be 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway for a combined 22 mpg.

The 2 Series will make its official U.S. debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. Starting price will be $33,025, including a $925 delivery charge.